Back to School & Staying Organized

I've been bitten!...by the back to school bug, that is. You don't have to look at a calendar to know that it's already August. Just check out any social media sight and you'll instantly feel the Back to School Buzz! Teachers are prepping, planning, pinning and purchasing. Parents and students are shopping for supplies and everyone is trying to soak up as much freedom and summertime as they can before they head back. Here, in Wisconsin, we have one month left. However, there are many schools that are already back in session. Crazy!

To help out, the amazing folks at Teachers Pay Teachers are hosting their annual Back to School Sale August 4th and 5th and you better believe I am participating. My store is prepped and set to discount ALL of my products by 20%. As always, TpT is throwing in an additional % off with the promo code: BTS14 for a total of 28% off.

As a seller, I feel quite prepared. As a buyer, well...that's an entirely different story! My wishlist is full and my shopping cart is OVERFLOWING! Seriously, it's quite ridiculous! I really don't know how I'm going to narrow down my purchases and trust me - I have to! As much as I love supporting my fellow sellers, I also need to afford the house my husband and I are currently building. No worries though, I'll be dishing out the cha chings with the best of them!

I really hope you take a second to stop by my store. I'm sure your wishlist can't possibly be as long as mine! ;) If not, I have to tell you about my best selling item which is a Planner/Organizer Binder in Chalkboard & Brights. I have other designs, including a more ink-friendly version that includes 105 cover choices with matching binder spines. It's just that my Chalkboard & Brights was on the top 100 best selling products list for the past two weeks, so I've got lots of love in that one. My line of planners are packed full of organizational tools, lists, forms, calendars, lesson planning pages, CCSS for grades K-8, Special Education and intervention resources, and much more! They are also editable and you receive free updates every year. Who am I kidding, since I first posted this product, I've added over 100 pages. What can I say, I can't say no to customer requests!

 

 

Happy shopping!!!

is in love with Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

I am in love with music. It is my meditation. I love everything about it. I love how it can play with my emotions and relieve me of my constant need for control. It’s like I get to take a break from everything that is crazy or chaotic and just get lost in something beautiful, or peaceful, or energizing, or whatever it is I need as an escape. I love how it can pull me out of a dark place, instantly put a smile of my face, make me cry for no reason, make me cry for a loved one, take me to an exact moment of my past, give me motivation and energy or calm me down.

I also love the fact that my husband shares this passion with me. I will admit, however, while I enjoy music, he tends to be a little obsessive about it. He can name that tune, finish that song, recall the year of that album was released, you name it, he probably owns it.

When asked the question, "What is your favorite song?", my go-to answer has always been  "Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, however, my musical tastes are constantly changing. In fact, as of recently, my favorite group/singer duo has been Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. Talk about love at first listen!!!

A few months ago I was searching online for the song "Live Forever" by Billy Jo Shaver and accidently opened up a song with the same title. I realized right away it wasn't what I was looking for, but I ended up listening and about 3 more songs later, I was completely hooked. Pure talent and love with this couple. Have a listen to my favorite (for the moment) of their songs, "Someday" here. Enjoy!

Their official website:
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

The Day After Christmas

I just read this ADORABLE, little book, "'Twas the Day After Christmas" with my two-year old, which he received as a gift from his uncle & auntie (my brother & sister-in-law) yesterday. Of course, I just had to share the excitement and joy I the experience.

The story starts out, 'Twas the day after Christmas (note the date of this post - how appropriate, right?) and all through the house, every creature was stirring..."What's going on?" said a mouse! You get to interact by lifting flaps throughout the book to help this worried little mouse figure out how to keep the Christmas spirit alive all year round. ...So stinkin' cute!!!

But wait! That wasn't even the best part! When we were done reading the story, my son turned to me and said, "Mumma, that is just like "Kissmas" time and Mumma and me clean it ALL up!" (which we've been slowly doing today).

The teacher in me was SO excited to hear him making text-to-self connections for the first time, I almost cried!!! I know any teacher will completely understand that.

is participating in the Cyber Sale on TpT!

Who doesn't love a sale, especially if it makes our lives as teachers a little easier during the busy holiday season (and beyond)!  Teachers Pay Teachers is having their annual Cyber Monday and Tuesday Sale... all you need to do is shop and enter the code CYBER at checkout to get some great deals!  Many sellers (including my store, Tanya Rae Designs) are offering 20% off on those days. By entering the code, you will receive a total of 28% off your entire purchase! Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!!!

 

is gearing up for the big Back to School Sale on TpT!!

It's here! It's finally here! Any teacher looking for last minute goodies for his or her classroom would be just crazy not to shop the TpT Back to School Sale! As a seller, my ENTIRE store will be 28% off will the coupon code: BTS13. I'm actually running my sale August 18th through the 20th.

As a teacher getting ready to teach a whole new grade level, you can bet I will be shopping on the sale dates. My wish list and cart are OVERFLOWING! If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out all of the amazing products on TpT, especially in my store. ;) I offer clip art, resources for Common Core, and more! Start transferring your wish listed items to your cart, people!

 

on landing a dream job and staying organized this school year.

That's right, I did it! I got the JOB! No more day-to-day sub jobs. No more school hopping. No more INTERVIEWS! I got my dream job!

After my husband and I moved our little family back to our small, home town last June, I was very nervous about getting another full time teaching position. I didn't even know if I wanted to work in my hometown district, which I can't believe I'm even admitting to now. "Maybe it will be strange to teach the children of my old classmates", I thought. "Maybe it would be best to live here, and teach in a neighboring town", I had convinced myself.

Then the school year started and I got my first call to sub in the district. It only took that day to make me realize this is exactly where I want to be. This district, the one where I spent my 13 years as a student, myself, is small, but progressive. It produces amazing teachers and is filled with people who truly care about the education and future of children. The test scores are among the top in Wisconsin. The elementary school, where I will be teaching, is a fairly new building, has up-to-date technology and an AMAING principal and staff! Did I mention the school is only about a mile down the road from where we live? I have died and gone to heaven!

The biggest change is that I will be teaching 2nd Grade, when all of my full-time experience has been at the 5th Grade level. It makes no difference to me, however. I am SO excited to work with this age group and learn to be the best 2nd grade teacher I can be. I just don't know where to begin!!! Well, I know where to begin, but it's really hard to focus when I have so many ideas swarming through my brain. Luckily, I have a few weeks to get my classroom ready and brain prepared.

The first thing I plan to do over the next week, is get my Teacher Planner / Organizer printed and bound into a book. It literally will be my saving grace over the next 9 months. I've used a planner every year that I have taught and I don't know what I would do without it. This year, I updated the planner to include all of the Common Core Standards for each grade level (K - 5). Of course, I will only be putting the 2nd grade version in my planner. I just haven't decided on which theme I will use. As of right now, I have four in my TpT store. I'm also working on a Football themed planner right now. You can check them out by clicking on the cover pages below.

 

 

 

 

Here's to a well-organized school year!

Teacher Appreciation Sale on TpT

 

Have you heard about the Teacher Appreciation Sale??? It's Tuesday and Wednesday and it's going to be AMAZING! Everything in my store is 28% off with promo code: TAD13.

Also, I just added some Colorful Cloud Digital Frames & Borders (also on sale) to add to your clip art collection.

 

I ♥ Teachers!